Improve your professional image in one easy step

You professional image goes beyond work. It means posting information online that you would be comfortable with your boss or prospective employer reading, it means acting in an appropriate manner even when you’re not at work and it means that you need to dress and look the part.

Beyond your work ethic and commitment to company culture, you need to be noticed for the right reasons. One of the easiest ways to do that is to up your game when it comes to personal hygiene from top to toe – literally.

Let’s start at the top because that’s where you want to end up at work. Your hair is your crowning glory so it’s important to keep it clean. If you work in a conservative environment, it’s wise not to opt for wild colours or extreme cuts. Keep it classic and make sure that it is always clean and shiny.

Never try to mask greasy hair because you won’t fool anyone. Dirty hair has an unpleasant oily smell that is very distinctive so don’t think you’re fooling anyone when you casually act as if it’s product that has set your hair like that! Nobody is falling for it – and the reason for that is because they can smell your dirty hair!

The thing is, we all have bad hair days and manic mornings. We all know what it’s like to run out of time with hungry mouths to feed and we’ve probably even tried to dry-clean the problem with some powder but that doesn’t make it any more socially acceptable to have dirty hair. It really comes down to good personal hygiene habits.

So we’ve covered the top and the middle but left out the toes… make sure you get a regular pedicure – even if you do it yourself! Slough off the dry skin and invest in a good foot cream to keep feet looking smooth. Trim toenails and keep polish (for the ladies!) fresh. For the men, long toenails cannot be excused. keep them short and neat.

So take the time to invest in yourself and consider it part of your career development plan because first impressions are lasting ones!